Endowment Fund Gives Out Thousands

SIGOURNEY – On Apr. 16, the Keokuk County Endowment Fund handed out tens of thousands of dollars in endowments to various local governments and organizations to improve the community. These awards were held at the Sigourney Ministerial Alliance’s community center. More than 890,000 dollars in endowments have been given out by the endowment fund over the past six years.

The night began with a speech from Tami Gilliland, the Keokuk County Coordinator of Disability Services, about the help the endowment fund had given to the community center. The community center hosts the Sigourney food bank, AA meetings, and various mental health programs. Because of endowments in recent years, the Ministerial Alliance were able to replace a backed up sewer, replace leaking doors and damaged flooring, and install new lights inside and outside of the center. “Through the endowment, we were able to keep the building open, safe, and accessible to some of our most vulnerable populations within the county,” said Gilliand.

Mike Bensmiller of the Ministerial Alliance followed this by explaining the importance of the food pantry. In 2022, there were 656 visits to the food pantry. In addition, the food pantry provided a Christmas meal and gifts for 209 children in December and provided more than 500 meals to hungry children over the summer. “The food pantry does a lot. I’m very appreciative of how the community really supports the food pantry. There’s a lot of donations that happen,” said Bensmiller.

The largest endowment was given to the What Cheer Opera House, who received $25000 for renovations at the opera house.

Other endowments given out include:

-$8000 to the City of Delta for city park equipment upgrades.

-$2500 to Delta Town and Country Center to remodel the stage and floor and install new lights.

-$5000 to the City of Hayesville for city hall renovations.

-$1832 to the Hedrick Public Library for computer maintenance and to buy new books for children.

-$5000 to the City of Hedrick to replace the park fence and install a concrete floor in the salt shed.

-$2396 to the City of Hedrick to add gravel at the American Legion parking lot.

-$4825 to Keokuk County Health Center for new paramedic radios.

-$4163 to the City of Keswick to install a new roof on a shelter at the city park.

-$5000 to the Keswick Fire Department for new firefighting uniforms.

-$5000 to American Legion Post 319 to replace tables and chairs.

-$5000 to the City of Martinsburg for furnishings at the new city hall.

-$6000 to the South English Fire Department and QRS for scene lighting.

-$2500 to the Sigourney Public Library workplace environment enhancement.

-$5000 to the City of Sigourney to replace rusted picnic tables at the city pool.

-$5000 to the City of Thornburg for street repairs.

-$5000 to the City of Webster for street repairs.

-$5000 to the animal shelter UNleashed to buy a trailer to haul food and litter.

-$5000 to the Clear Creek Township to repair the Tallyrand Cemetery

-$5000 to the Plank Township to repair the Sunnyridge Cemetery

In addition, $15000 from the county Disaster Recovery fund was handed out; $9000 to the Ministerial Alliance to repair storm damage to the community center roof and $6000 to the City of Martinsburg for city hall.